Automatic-manual window operator



Jan: 12, 1954 I- N 2,665,904

AUTOMATIC-MANUAL WINDOW OPERATOR Filed Dec. 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet lIhwentor attorneys 1954 H. G. LEHMANN AUTOMATIC-MANUAL WINDOW OPERATOR 3Sheets -Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1950 3110mm lie/"15am 6 leivma/mGttornegs Jan. 12, 1954 LEHMANN 2,665,904

AUTOMATIC-MANUAL WINDOW OPERATOR Filed Dec. 29, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Bnventor Gttornegs Patented Jan. 12, 1954- STT AUTOMATIC-MANUAL WINDOWOPERATOR Application December 29, 1950, Serial No. 203,399

14 Claims.

This invention relates to manualand poweroperated windows, such as arefound in automobiles and the like.

The invention is concerned with improvements in the power-operatedwindow described and claimed in the copending application of Joseph H.Cone, Serial No. 195,624, filed November 14, 1950, entitledPower-Operated Window.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved manualandpower-operated window mechanism wherein opening and closing of thewindow may be effected either manually or by power at the will of theoperator, without resorting to presetting or change-over operations orthe like to shift from one type of operation to the other.

Another object of the invention i to provide an improved manualandpower-operated window mechanism for opening and closing the windoweither manually or by power, wherein the window is automatically lockedin adjusted position and automatically released prior to its beingopened or closed manually or by power.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved windowmechanism according to the foregoing, wherein the manually operablemember of the mechanism is stationary when the window is being actuatedby power.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedmanualand power-operated window mechanism for both opening and closingthe window, which is so organized and arranged that manual actuation ofthe window may be effected without resorting to any disconnect operationbetween the power unit and the window whatsoever, thus simplifying themechanism involved.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved windowactuating mechanism as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph,wherein the window is automatically locked in adjusted position at alltimes that it is not being operated.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved manualandpower-operated mechanism according to all the foregoing, which is simpleand compact in construction, economical to fabricate and reliable inoperation at all times.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of window operatingmechanism, wherein hand power may be utilized to supplement the poweroperator should the window be difiicult to shift initially, as when itbecome frozen to the uide strips, or frames, etc.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In th accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the improved manualand power-operatedwindow mechanism of this invention, part of the manual operatingmechanism not being shown.

Fig. 2 is a detail partly in elevation and partly in section, looking inthe direction of the arrows 22 in Fig. 1, the parts of the mechanismbeing in the position they assume when the window is beingpower-operated.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view lik Fig. 2, but with the parts in the positions theyassume when the window is being operated manually.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, enlarged, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, thevertical section being taken on line t6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a circuit diagram of the electrical portion of the windowmechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail showing a modified form of locking means for use withthemechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, the sectionbeing taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. l, a windowpane i6 is shown, mounted on a bottom framemember I l of channel or similar shape, the frame member being securedto the pane it in any suitable manner.

Where the windowpane It is to constitute one of the windows of anautomobile, it may be carried in side channels or guides (not shown) asis well understood.

For actuating the windowpane iii the frame m mber H is provided withbrackets l2 having slots is accommodating pins It carried by the ends oflevers I5. At other ends, the levers l5 are connected by pivot pins itwith uprights I? and !'ia, the levers crossing each other when thewindowpane i8 is in fully lowered position as shown, and being pivctallyconnected together by a pivot pin l8. 1

The upright ii is fixedly mounted on a base i5 carried by a bracket 20,and the upright Ha is pivotally mounted on the base If In Fig. l, theraised position of the windowpane ii! is shown by a broken outline 2|,and

positions of the levers it are shown by broken outlines 22 and 23,corresponding to both the raised position of the windowpane l9 and alsothe half-raised or half-lowered position of the windowpane respectively.

For the purpose of operating the windowpane ID by power, an electricmotor 24 is provided, carried by a bracket 25 which is secured to theupright ll. The motor 25 is connected through an impositive drivemechanism with one of the levers 15 to actuate the same for lowering andraising the window. This impositive drive mechanism, as shown in Figs.and 6, comprises a link 26 pivotally joined to one lever 55 by a pivotpin 21, the link being carried in a rigid tubular sheath or tube 23secured to the upper casing part 29 of the motor 24. Within the casingpart 29 are divergent shafts 30 carrying worm wheels 3| driven by a worm32 mounted on the shaft 33 of the motor 24. The shafts 38 carry frictionwheels or pulleys 34 which frictionally' engage a flexible drivingelement or strip 35 connected to the lower end of the driving link 25.The flexible strip 35 passes between the pulleys. 34 and is undercontinual pressure therefrom, and when in retracted position as shown inFig. 6 extends within a tubular sheath 36 which may have a curved orcircular shape as shown in Fig. 1.

Reference may be had to the copending application of Joseph H. Coneabove referred to, for further details on the friction drive between themotor 24 and the windowpane It.

By the present invention, in combination with the powered friction drivedescribed above there is provided a novel means to enable the window tobe easily and conveniently manually actuated when so desired, togetherwith means for automatically locking the window in any adiustedposition- Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the frame structure whichcarries the windowpane Ill is shown as having spaced parallel walls 31and 38 which rotatably carry a shaft 39 having at one end an segment 46which is rigidly fastened to one of the levers L5, and said gear has ahub Ma provided with a round bore for receiving the circular portion 4!of the shaft 39.

Adjacent the gear 43 a bell crank $7 is mounted, having an arm t8adapted to extend between the teeth of the gear 45 and lock the latteragainst turning. The bell crank E! has a second arm 49 connected with aplunger 56 of an electric solenoid 5! whereby the arm #8. may be shiftedout of engagement with the teeth of the gear 43 as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that whenever the bell crank is engaging the teethof the gear 53 the gear segment 66 will be looked, as will thewindowpane H3, and whenever the bell crank is out of engagement with thegear 43 the gear segment 46 and the windowpane it will be free formovement.

Energization of the solenoid 5| is automatically effected prior toenergization of the motor 2 whereby automatic unlocking of thewindowpane Hi will be had whenever the motor is energized to operate thewindowpane.

In accomplishing this I employ a switch means and circuit as illustratedin Fig. 7. As shown,

iii)

the motor 24 has an armature 52 connected by a wire 53 with a battery54, which for example may be the battery of the car on which the windowmechanism is installed. A wire 55 leads from the armature 52 to a centertap 56 of a field coil 51. One end of the field coil 51 is connected bya wire 58 with a contact 59 of a switch 66,. and the other end is.connected by a wire 6| with an opposite switch contact 62. The solenoid5! is connected by a wire 63 to the wire 53, and by a wire 64 to anotherset of opposite contacts 55 and 55 of the switch Ell.

The switch 6% may be of the telephone, lever type, having a blade 61connected by a wire 68 with the battery 5 1'. When the blade 6'! ismoved from: centralized position in one direction or the other it willfirst engage and energize one or the other or the contacts 65, 66 andwill thereafter cause said one contact to engage and energize thecorresponding one of the contacts 59, 62. Thus, for operation of theswitch Ell in either one direction or the other the solenoid 5i willfirst be energized, and thereafter the motor 54 will be energized.Movement of the switch blade 67 in one direction will cause forwardrotation of the motor 2 5,, and movement in the. other direction willcause reverse rotation, of the motor.

In accordance with this invention means are provided whereby thewindowpane l0 may be raised or lowered manually, either in conjunctionwith the motor 24 or independently of the motor, by turning the handle40, such means however enabling the handle 40. to remain stationarywhenever the window is being power! operated.

Accordingly, referring to Fig. 2, I. provide a pinion 69 on the roundportion 4| of the shaft 39, said. pinion being axially slidable on. saidshaft portion and being engageable. with the gear segment 48. The pinion59 has a hub 10 provided with. a V-slot. ll accommodating a pin 12carried by'the shaft portion 4i. Engageable with the pinion 69 at alltimes is a gear 13 rotatably carried on a stud M, said gear having itsturning retarded by friction means comprising a compression spring 15and abutment washer 16. The purpose or" the gear [3 is to provide. adrag at all times on the pinion 69. Accordingly, whenever the handle wisturned, the pin 72 on the shaft 39 will ride along one or the other ofthe sloping portions of the V-slot H, thereby camming the pinion 69 tothe left. The drag. produced on, the pinion 59 by the gear 13 issuflicient to insure such camming and axial movement of the pinion. Inso moving, the pinion will displace the locking gear 44 from engagementwith the gear segment 46, shifting the locking gear to the left andcompressing the spring 45, all as shown in Fig. 4. In place of the gear44 meshing with the gear segment 46, the pinion 69 will now mesh withthe gear segment. This. will automatically unlock the gear segment andat the same time simultaneously provide for movement of the gear segmentand of the windowpane when the handle 40 is turned. Accordingly thehandle 45 may be operated to either raise or lower the window i0whenever desired, since the window is always first automaticallyunlocked by disengagement of the gear 44 from the segment 46.

The friction existing between the driving strip and the friction pulleys34 is such that slippage can occur whenever the handle 49 is turned. Assoon as the handle is released, the spring will extend itself and returnthe gear 44 into engagement with the segment 46, again locking thewindow and disengaging the pinion 69 and handle 40.

Accordingly it will be seen that, by the present invention, I haveprovided a novel and improved window operating mechanism whereby thewindow may be raised by power by energizing the motor 24, or may beraised manually by turning the handle 40, such mechanism being soarranged that during power operation of the window the handle 40 willnot turn, yet manual operation may be efiected by the mere act ofturning the handle without first resetting or converting the mechanismfor manual operation. In addition, I have provided means automaticallylocking the windowpane in any adjusted position whenever it is not beingactuated either manually or by power. The mechanism I have provided issimple and economical in construction, relatively small and compact, andis reliable in operation at all times.

In addition to independent actuation of the windowpane l by either thepower means or the manual means, it should be noted that both of thesemay be simultaneously employed if desired. Thus if a window shouldbecome stuck for some reason, as for example, if it is frozen to theframe because of sleet, ice, etc., both the handle 40 and the motor 24may be employed to shift the window.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In thismodification, automatic locking of the windowpane I0 is efiected bymeans directly engageable with the gear segment 46. As shown, a bracket71 is mounted on the upright I! and carries the unlocking solenoid i andplunger 50. The plunger 50 is connected to a lever 78 mounted on thebracket 71, having an arm 19 engageable with the teeth of the gearsegment 46. The lever 18 has a second arm. 80 engageable with a flange8! carried by the pinion 69. Whenever the solenoid 5| is energized, asshown in Fig. 9, it will disengage the arm 19 from the gear segment 46,releasing the gear segment and the windowpane 10 for movement.De-energizing of the solenoid will result in the arm 19 again engagingthe segment 46 to lock the window. If the window is to be operatedmanually, turning of the handle and shifting of the pinion 69 to theright as viewed in Fig. 9 will cause the flange 8| thereof to engage andmove the lever arm 80, thereby disengaging the lever arm 19 from thegear segment 46 to unlock the latter prior to the pinion 69 meshing withsaid segment. Upon removal of force from the handle 40 the spring wil1return the pinion 69 to the left, out of engagement with the gearsegment 46.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closedpositions; power meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane, for opening andclosing the latter; a manually-operable member turnable with respect tosaid mounting means; and means including a clutch for opening andclosing the windowpane in response to solely turning movement of saidmember, said clutch being normally disengaged when turning force isremoved from the manually-operable member to enable the windowpane to beactuated by said power means without causing movement of said member.

2. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane and including a powerunit, for actuating the windowpane, said means further including afriction drive which slips when overloaded, said drive enabling thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is at a standstill; amanually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;and means for actuating the windowpane solely in response to turningmovement of said member, said means being normally inoperative whenturning force is removed from the manually-operable member and enablingthe windowpane to be actuated by said power means without causingmovement of said member.

3. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane and including a powerunit, for

opening and closing the windowpane, said means further including afriction drive which slips when overloaded, said drive enabling thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is' at a standstill; amanually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;and means for opening and closing the windowpane in response to solelyturning movement of said member, said means including gears normally outof mesh when turning force is removed from the manually-operable memberto enable the windowpane to be actuated by said power means withoutcausing movement of said member, and including a cam mechanism betweenthe member and one of said gears, operable to advance: the gear intomesh whenever the member is turned.

4. The combination on? a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpaneon a support for movement between open and closed positions;

means including a power unit, connected with said mounting means andwindowpane for actuating the latter, said means further including a,

friction drive which slips when overloaded, said drive enabling thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is at a standstill; amanually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;and means for actuating the windowpane in response to turning of saidmember, said latter actuation being accompanied by slippage of saidfriction drive.

5. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansincluding a power unit, connected with said mounting means andwindowpane for actuating the latter, said means further including animpositive friction drive mechanism enabling the windowpane to be movedwhile the power unit is at a standstill when slippage occurs in saidmechanism; a manually-operable member turnable with respect to saidmounting means; and means for actuating the windowpane in response toturning of said member, said latter actuation being accompanied byslippage of said friction drive.

- 6. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpaneon a supportjor movement between open and closed positions; meansincluding a power unit,connected with said mounting means and windowpanefor actuating the latter, said means further including a slip; drivecomprising a push-pull strip and a pair of juxtaposed power-drivenfriction wheels engaging opposite sides of said strip to enable thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is at. a standstill; amanually-operable member turnable with. respect to said mounting means;and means. for actuating the window'pane in response to turning of saidmember, said latter actuation being accompanied by slippage of saidstrip on said friction wheels.

7. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane and including a powerunit, for opening and closing the windowpane; said meansfurtherincluding a friction drive which slips when overloaded, said driveenabling the windowpane to be moved while the power unit is at astandstill; a manually-operable member turnable with respect to saidmounting means; means for opening and closing the windowpane in responseto solely turning movement of said memher, said means including gearsnormally out of mesh when turning force is removed from the manuallyoperable member to enable the windowpanc to be actuated by said powermeans without causing movement of said member, and including a cammechanism between the member and one of said gears, operable to advancethe gear into mesh whenever the member is turned; means normally lockingthe windowpane against movement; and means rendering said locking meansinoperative inresponse to advance of said one gear into mesh.

3, The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting-the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane and including a powerunit, for opening and closing the windowpane, said means furtherincluding a friction drive which slips when overloaded, said driveenabling the windowpane to be moved while the power unit is at astandstill; a manually-operable member turnable with respect to saidmounting means; means for opening and closing the windowpane in resonseto solely turning movement of said memher, said means including gearsnormally out of mesh when turning force is removed from the manuallyoperable member to enable the windowpane to be actuated by said powermeans without causing movement of said member, and including a cammechanism between the member and one of said gears, operable to advancethe gear into mesh whenever the member is turned; means normally lockingthe windowpane against movement; means rendering aid locking meansinoperative. in response to advance of said one gear into mesh; andmeans rendering said looking means inoperative when the power unit isoperative.

9. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpane ona support for movement between open and closed positions; meansincluding a power unit, connected with said mounting means andwindowpane for actuating the latter, said means further including afriction drive which slip when overloaded, said drive enabling thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is at a standstill; amanually-op arable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;means for actuating the wintuating the windowpanc, said means furtherin-- cluding a friction drive which slips when overloaded, said driveenabling the windowpane to, be moved while. the power unit is at astandstill; a

manually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;means for actuating the windowpane in response to solely turningmovement of said member, said means being normally inoperative whenturning force is removed from the manually-operable member and enablingthe Windowpane to be actuated by said power means without causingmovement of said member; means normally locking the windowpane against.movement; and means rendering said locking means inoperative in responseto initial turning movement of said member.

11. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpaneon a support for movement between open and closed positions; meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane and including a powerunit, for actuating the windowpane, said means further including afriction drive which slips when overloaded, said drive enabling thewindowpane to be moved while the power unit is at a standstill; amanually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;means for actuating the windowpane in response to solely turningmovement of said member, said means being normally inoperative whenturning force is removed from the manually-operable member and enablingthe windowpane to be actuated by said power means without causingmovement of said member; means normally locking the windowpane againstmovement; means rendering said locking means inoperative in response toinitial turning movement of said member; and means rendering saidlocking means inoperative when the power unit is operative.

12. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpaneon a. support for movement between open and closed positions; powermeans connected with said mounting means and windowpane, for actuatingthe latter; a manually-operable member turnable with respect to saidmounting means; means for actuating the windowpane in response to solelyturning movement of said member, said means being normally inoperativewhen turning force is removed from the manually-operable member andenabling the windowpane to be actuated by said power means withoutcausingmovenient of said member; means normally locking the windowpaneagainst movement; and means rendering said locking means inoperative inresponse to initial turning movement of said member.

13. The combination of a windowpane; means for mounting the windowpaneon a support for movement between open and closed positions; power meansconnected with said mountin means and windowpane, for actuating thelatter:

a manually-operable member turnable with respect to said mounting means;means for actuating the windowpane in response to solely turningmovement of said member, said means being normally inoperative whenturning force is removed from the manually-operable member and eablingthe windowpane to be actuated by said power means without causingmovement of said member; means normally locking the windowpane againstmovement; means rendering said locking means inoperative in response toinitial turning movement of said member; and means rendering saidlocking means inoperative when the power means is operative. p

14. The combination of a windowpane; means for moimting the windowpaneon a support for movement between open and closed positions; power meansconnected with said mounting means and windowpane, for actuating thelatter; a manually-operable member turnable with respect to saidmounting means; means including gears arranged to mesh with each otherwhen the member is turned, for actuating the windowpane in response toturning movement of said member, said gears being normally out of meshwhen turning force is removed from the manuallyoperable member to enablethe windowpane to be actuated by said power means without causingmovement of said member; means including a locking gear meshing with oneof said first-mentioned gears, normally locking the windowpane againstmovement; and means for shifting said locking gear out of mesh when thefirst-mentioned gears are brought into mesh, thereby rendering saidlocking means inoperative in response to initial turning movement ofsaid member.

HERBERT G. LEHMANN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,070,167 Nitschke Aug. 17, 1913 2,359,490 Rappl Oct. 3, 19442,548,847 Rossman et a1 Apr. 10, 1951

